New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-11
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.


A President of the United States who does
| not dare to meet veteran soldiers OF the
| United States to whons the Nation owes Its
existence, because he fears that contempt for
him would be so expressed as to influence
public opinion, occupies unique position
There has been no other President ike him
in that particular. That he should insult the
veterans, in order to cover his shame, by pre-
tending to fear that they would resort to per-
sonal violence, is not unnatural for one who
could get himself into so discreditable a
position. Still less is it strange that servile
Mugwumps, "who crook the pregnant hinges
of the knee should falsely charge that the
surrender of the rebel flags had nothing to
do with the matter and that the real issue
was the veto Of the Dependent Pensions
bill.
A single fact suffices to nail this untruth-
When the veto was under consideration, and
Grand Army posts were invited to express
their opinion about it, Commander Fairchild
went beyond what many considered the line
Of his duty In an effort to prevent such ex-
pressions. But when the Presidents order to
surrender the rebel flags became known, Conn
mander Fairchild was the first to startle the
The President does not tell the truth when
he says that hostility of veterans had been
arousedby his action {" in the discharge of what
he believed a public duty He knows that
the sneers at veterans, which had defaced
many of his messages, had caused infinitely
more bitter feeling than all the vetoes them
selves, and these wanton insults were no part
his DUTY He knows. also, that the bundenng
attempt of his partisans to turn the Grand
ARMY Encampment at st. Louis into political
ovation to a Democratic candidate was the real
cause of all trouble prior to the order OF sur
render Several Republican politicians, at
different times, have tried to use the Grand
Army as a lifting-jaclS for their political ambi-
tons. and have suffered snubbing in conse-
ouepce. That was the fate which awaited
Cleveland in consequence of the attempt OF
his friends to use the Grand Army for his
political ends.
The order to surrender the rebel flags kiniled
q sweeping prairie fire Of Indignation all over
the North. The President soon realized it
and backed down. But consequence pres
entity perceived was that the President could
not afford TO face the Grand Army. at st. Louis
or anywhere eIse. The frigidly polite snub-
hing which would in any case have rcbukcd
the attempt to use the organization Of veterans
for his political ends might have been en-
dured. But the just Indignation and burning
contempt which the proposed surrender OF
fiags in violation of law had aroused,-that
would have found and will find expression.
in forms proper for fec citizens and fatal TO
Mr.. Cleyelands ambition. A President who
deserves respect is sure to get it; President
who insults the sentiments and sacred men~
cries of all loyal men is sure to receive what
he deserves also. Commander Fa,rchild well
said that old soldiers could find better ways
of expressing their contempt than the filnglng
of brickbats. Personal injury was not to be
apprehended, nor any want Of respect for the
Presidents office, but the right of citizen to
express his opinion Of the conduct OF public
servant who disregards law and insults the
loyal people has not yet been lost. The cleo
ton of a President who does not know any
thing of loyal sentiment, has no share in it,
and was chosen by dislcyal methods and votes
il the root of the difficulty. No party fit to be
intrusted with power would have proposed
for President of the United States n man like
Mr.. Cleveland. Not while single veteran OF
the war remained alive, not while single
pension was payable to the widow of one who
fell in the Nations service, not while a
dollar of the debt incurred in suppression of
the rebellion remained unpaid, not while one OF
| the laws enacted for reconstruction OF the
Union was still violated, would a party fit for
public trust have nominated candidate who
had no sympathy with the suppression OF the
rebellion. The facts irritatc Democrats be-
cause they place that party in its true light